Home > Carol

1 History

The word carol is thought to have been derived from the French word caroller, a circle dance accompanied by singers (in turn derived from the Latin choraula). The carol was very popular as a dance song from the 1150s to the 1350s, after which its use expanded as a processional song sung during festivals, while others were written to accompany religious mystery plays (such as the Coventry Carol, written in 1591).

Following the banning of many religious festivities during the Protestant Reformation, the carol went into a decline, though composers such as William Byrd composed motet-like works for Christmas which they termed carols. Folk-carols continued to be sung in rural areas, however, and the form was revived in the 19th century when many surviving carols were re-discovered and arranged for church use.

Today the carol is represented almost exclusively by the Christmas carol, and to a much lesser extent by the Easter carol .

2 Bibliography

Important anthologies of carols include:

• Christmas Carols New and Old ed. H. R. Bramley and John Stainer ( 1871)
• The Oxford Book of Carols ed. Percy Dearmer , Martin Shaw and Ralph Vaughan Williams ( 1928Centuries: 19th century 20th century 21st century Decades: 1870s 1880s 1890s 1900s 1910s 1920s 1930s 1940s 1950s 1960s 1970s Years: 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930 1931 1932 See also 1928 in aviation 1928 in film 1928 in literature 1928 in mu)
• The University Carol Book ed. Erik RoutleyErik Routley ( October 31 1917 October 8 1982) was an English Congregational minister, composer and musicologist. He was educated at Lancing College and Magdalen and Mansfield Colleges in Oxford. He was chaplain of Mansfield from 1948 to 1959 and then hel ( 19611961 (As MAD Magazine pointed out on its first cover for the year) was the first "upside-down" year i. one that looked the same upside down since 1881, and the last until 6009. Events January January 1 The farthing coin, used since the 13th century, cease}
• Carols for Choirs ed. David WillcocksDavid Willcocks (b. 30 December 1919) is an English organist and choral conductor. He studied at the Royal College of Music and at King's College, Cambridge, where he was organ scholar. He was organist of Salisbury Cathedral from 1947 to 1950, of Worceste, Reginald Jacques and John RutterJohn Rutter (born September 24, 1945) is an English composer and choral conductor He studied music at Clare College, Cambridge, where he was director of music from 1975 to 1979. In 1981 he founded his own choir, the Cambridge Singers with which he has mad ( 19611961 (As MAD Magazine pointed out on its first cover for the year) was the first "upside-down" year i. one that looked the same upside down since 1881, and the last until 6009. Events January January 1 The farthing coin, used since the 13th century, cease- 19881988 is a leap year starting on Friday (click on link for calendar). Events January January 2 Georgia celebrates its bicentennial statehood. January 9 Connecticut celebrates its bicentennial statehood. January 26 Australia celebrates its bicentennial day.)
• The New Oxford Book of Carols ed. Hugh Keyte and Andrew Parrott ( 19921992 is a leap year starting on Wednesday. Events January January The Internet Society is formed. January 1 Boutros Boutros-Ghali of Egypt replaces Javier Perez de Cuellar of Peru as United Nations Secretary-General January 1 George H. Bush becomes the fi)